Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales doesn’t seem too interested in running a farm system for the NFL’s 31 other teams.
With the league’s trade deadline about one month away, the annual rumor and innuendo about wheelin’ and dealin’ has begun. And some of that chatter has wrangled in Panthers wideout Diontae Johnson, who is being linked to receiver-needy contenders by your usual suspects in the media.
But Canales, who was asked about the speculation surrounding Johnson, shot that idea down rather definitively on Wednesday.
“My job is to do the best thing, to put the best 11 guys out there to win. That’s my job as the head coach,” he told reporters. “And the guys we have, we love the guys and the development and progression that we have. So, I don’t see that happening.”
He does, however, see Johnson suiting up for the team in Week 5—despite him being included on today’s injury report with an ankle issue.
“Absolutely,” Canales replied when asked if he expects Johnson to play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. “We’re gonna get him out there and run him around and make sure he’s ready to go.”
Johnson, who was dealing with a groin strain last week, did not practice this afternoon.
